Black Labour MP says she and her family were racially profiled by Met Police when officers stopped her in London during England-Scotland match
A black Labour MP has said she and her family were racially profiled by Metropolitan Police officers who stopped her in London during the England-Scotland Euro 2020 match.
Kim Johnson, 54, added that officers simply ‘walked off’ when she told them she was the MP for Liverpool Riverside.
She and her son were getting out of a taxi with family friends in London on June 18 when they were ‘encircled by some police officers saying that my son’s friend ”matched the description of”’ someone.
Ms Johnson, who became Liverpool’s first black MP in 2019, said that the officers came straight to her family even though the place was ‘swamped with drunken football supporters’.
Kim Johnson (pictured), 54, added that officers simply ‘walked off’ when she told them she was the MP for Liverpool Riverside
She told The Times: ‘I thought that was quite interesting because [my son’s friend] is a big black man who was wearing a very bright yellow jacket. For me, it was just another example of racial profiling that the Met have a really poor record on, as we know.’
Ms Johnson and her family did not make a formal complaint to be police force but worries that other people may not get off so lightly.
She added that some people who challenge police during an interaction can then be arrested for obstructing an officer.
She and her son were getting out of a taxi with family friends in London on June 18 when they were ‘encircled by some police officers saying that my son’s friend ”matched the description of”’ someone. Pictured: Scottish football fans on a statue of William Shakespeare in London on June 18
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said that they could not comment on the interaction because it was not recorded as an incident.
They added: ‘Whilst we are unable to comment on this specific incident — without the full circumstances — or what led to the stop, we would expect officers to pursue all lines of inquiry, including speaking to individuals who match the description of those allegedly involved, when responding to an allegation of crime,’ he said.
‘The Met remains committed to ensuring that every encounter is conducted professionally with respect and courtesy. Anyone who has concerns regarding a specific interaction with officers is encouraged to contact the Met so that these concerns can be listened to and appropriate action taken where necessary.’